Back from Alaska and back to writing ... wanna help me find sources/products?
Plus: Info on the Insider strike, which you should definitely be paying attention to
Hello, subscribers — there are now more than 5,000 of you! I’m so grateful for your support and engagement over the last 1.5 years :) This platform has been such a game-changer for my business and I have you to thank!
I’m back from Alaska, and it was a fantastic trip with my dad! It was a 5-day land tour and 7-day cruise, all hosted by Princess Cruises … this was my 16th cruise and it felt so good to be at sea again (my first cruise since the pandemic). Hopefully you watched along on Instagram, b/c I was posting stories like crazy!
Some highlights I posted on social media include riding the world’s longest zipline and taking a helicopter to a glacier and then dog sledding! A highlight I won’t be including is the number on my scale, which has increased by 6 pounds because I ate way too many delicious 5-course dinners! #noregrets
Hopefully by now you’ve all heard about the strike at Insider. This is day 11.
Insider employees are fighting for the entire journalism industry: fair contracts, better pay, and healthcare. And they are not being paid during this strike, btw.
A good read: https://nypost.com/2023/06/09/business-insiders-top-editor-is-tired-too-amid-strike/
This strike affects writers (like me, who contribute there), publicists (like you, who pitch there), and obviously all of their staff. I strongly urge you NOT to cross the digital picket line: I am not pitching/writing for them during this time and you should not be pitching them either. And even if you do, nobody will be reading your pitches, as nobody is assigning articles. So stand in solidarity with your media friends, please!
In fact, I’ll go as far as to say think twice before even visiting their website. Don’t give them traffic! And that traffic is plummeting, btw.
Follow this Twitter account for the latest on the strike.
A few personal needs before I launch into my assignments below:
Do you rep hotels/restaurants/experiences in Venice or Athens? I’m headed there in August, so please reach out with clients I should check out!
Do you know who reps T3 hairdryers? I’d love to connect!
I’m still digging out of emails, as you can imagine after a 2-week trip. Please be patient with me, but go ahead and add to my inbox if you have pitches that match my current assignments!
Have a great week,
Jill
PS: My comment section is open and I respond to every comment!
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Got Affiliate Marketing Questions for 2023?
Yes, most publications require affiliate marketing for inclusion these days. Publicist Sarah Karger created a course called Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists and it’ll answer ALL of your questions!
Pick My Brain: Book a Consulting Session
Nicole Pajer and I have teamed up for Top Tier Consulting, where we offer a variety of customized consulting packages for agencies and freelance publicists to help take your media hits to the next level. These include:
Pitch Perfecting Strategy Session: We’ll workshop your pitches and offer suggestions to help improve your open rate and coverage opps!
Become a Journalist’s BFF: Networking and Relationship Management Session: Highly successful publicists know that building long-term relationships with journalists is truly the gift that keeps on giving, so we’ll give you tips on how to meet new journalists, stay in touch and become their go-to source.
Hosting the Perfect Virtual and/or In-Person Media Event Session: You’ll learn the ins and outs of how to create a media event that journalists will A) Want to attend B) Will stay engaged at C) Will work into coverage.
Agency Q&A Session: You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers! Nothing is off-limits!
Press Package 101 Session: We’ll help you make your packages more enticing, while actually saving your clients money in the process. And we’ll discuss how to target the right audiences, how to handle post-delivery follow-ups, and more.
Press Trips Invites and Itineraries Session: The two most important aspects to pulling off a successful press trip is nailing your invites and itineraries — we will help guide you through both!
Visit our website to learn more about the services and sessions we provide — we’re looking forward to working with you!
PR JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Modern Currency PR is looking to bring on a rockstar PR Account Executive with a passion for travel, hotels & resorts, & hospitality to join our growing team! Applicants must have at least 2 years of direct experience in PR with well-rounded hospitality, lifestyle, travel, food, and/or lifestyle media contacts. This position is fully remote but must be based in L.A. with the ability to be mobile for on-site client meetings/shoots/media tours and meet-up’s etc. Send resume to: meghan@moderncurrencypr.com
You can always email these job opps to me at JillSchildhouse@gmail.com — but please use PR Job Opps as your subject line so I can find them easily! And please let me know if you land/fill a job based on this listing … it brings me joy :)
***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)
Travel + Leisure: 8 Best Portable Monitors
Southern Living: Do You Really Need to Boil Your Wooden Spoons to Clean Them?
Reader’s Digest: The Best Cruise Cabin for Every Type of Need
U.S. News & World Report: What to Do in Kauai
Reader’s Digest: I Got a Sneak Peek at the World’s Largest Cruise Ship
Travel + Leisure: The Best Cooling Clothing for Summer
Southern Living: What is a Dutch Oven?
Travel + Leisure: 15 Most Comfortable Flats for Travel
Travel + Leisure: 15 Best Wrinkle-Free Dresses for Travel
Southern Living: Does Vinegar Go Bad?
AARP (my debut!!): Smart Guide to Spring Cleaning
Going.com (my debut!!): Tucson: The U.S. Desert Oasis That’s a UNESCO City of Gastronomy
USA Today: 10 Most Popular Home Products People are Buying on Amazon Right Now
Taste of Home: How to Thaw Pork Chops Safely
Reader’s Digest: Best Time to Visit Arizona
Reader’s Digest: Best Time to Visit the Grand Canyon
Reader’s Digest: I’ve Tried Every At-Home Manicure System and This is the Best!
Reader’s Digest: The Best Time to Visit Alaska
Now, it's time to get the word out! When you and your clients share your coverage on social media, please be sure to tag my accounts: Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn (and please connect with me yourselves!).
—— Current Editorial Needs ——
1. Travel Market Report: Alaska Cruise-Focused Travel Agents
Looking for travel agents who specialize in Alaska cruises (and are NOT affiliated with any cruise lines!) to discuss the benefits/drawbacks of small vs big ship cruising in Alaska to help other travel agents learn how to guide their clients on this big decision that could make or break their bucket list vacation.
Please send credentials, not commentary. Due to new policies from my outlets regarding AI, I no longer accept unsolicited responses because I won’t know if they are plagiarized.
Subject line: Alaskan Cruise Expert
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Wednesday (June 14)
2. Reader’s Digest: Best Cruise Products
Looking for the most amazing products for a cruise … not generic products that work for any type of travel, but truly products made for life at sea. Think seasickness bands, smart ways to stay organized in a small cabin (like magnetic hooks or over-the-door organizers), an underwater camera, collapsible luggage, passport wallet, a carryon bag that doubles as something you can use for excursions, USB outlet extender, etc.
Products on Skimlinks/Amazon/big box retailers will be given preference, so let me know which affiliate program it’s on
Subject line: Cruise Products + Insert product name
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Thursday (June 15)
3. Southern Living: Nutritionist (not affiliated with a brand)
This article will explore: Can you eat watermelon seeds?
Please send credentials, not commentary. Due to new policies from my outlets regarding AI, I no longer accept unsolicited responses because I won’t know if they are plagiarized.
Subject line: Watermelon Nutritionist
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Thursday (June 15)
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Other journalist newsletters definitely worth subscribing to: Be sure to follow my trusted colleagues so you can stay up-to-date on their pitching needs: Alice Dubin, Bryce Gruber, Aly Walansky, and Nicole Pajer.
your trip looks like it was truly amazing! love, love your pics.
Regarding T3 hairdryers, reach out to Kate Neilson from Gear Communications -- I worked there for many years and they've been representing T3 forever! Her email is: kneilson@gearcommunications.com